Dear Parents, Students and Friends

College Musical

Have you bought your tickets? This year’s musical, We Will Rock You: School Edition by Queen and Ben Elton is a show stopper! I strongly encourage all families to attend. We truly appreciate your support of college events and this is one way we can all give back by showing our appreciation to staff and students who have worked tirelessly to bring this production to life. Tickets are selling well, so please ensure you do not miss out! Follow the link below to secure your seats!

https://bpav.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/147478

This link can also be found on our college Facebook page.

 
Celebrating Mrs Ros Maher… 30 Years as Musical Director of our Carroll College Musicals

For the past 30 years, Mrs Ros Maher has been the heart and soul of our college musicals, serving as our dedicated and inspiring Musical Director. Her unwavering commitment, extraordinary talent, and boundless enthusiasm have brought countless productions to life, leaving an indelible mark on our school community. Mrs Maher’s guidance has nurtured the musical talents of generations of students, fostering confidence, creativity, and a love for the performing arts. Her tireless efforts and passion have created memories that will resonate through our college for years to come. We are deeply grateful for her exceptional service and the profound impact she has made on our community. Thank you, Mrs Maher, for your 30 years of remarkable dedication! We Will Rock You is the college’s fourteenth musical production.

Get an Un-Real Job! Introducing CCB Podcasts… with Erica Drewsen

Ever dreamed of being an astronaut, a video game designer, or a wildlife photographer? Get an Un-Real Job! is the podcast that proves no dream is too big and no job is truly “unreal.” Each episode features inspiring conversations with students from Carroll College as they share their “un-real” dream jobs, followed by interviews with real-life professionals who are living those dreams. Packed with stories, advice, and a healthy dose of motivation, this podcast is here to show young people in our local community that the extraordinary is within reach. Whether you’re a dreamer, a doer, or just curious, tune in to discover how un-real jobs can become real jobs—and how they can be yours too! Stay tuned…

NAPLAN Results Summary

Our recent NAPLAN results for Years 7 and 9 show improving performance across all domains, which is a pleasing outcome for our school community.

This is a wonderful achievement for Carroll that reflects the collective effort of our dedicated staff, the high expectations we set for our students, and our ongoing commitment to effective teaching and learning. Whether through classroom instruction, pastoral care, academic support, or leadership, each member of our team shares a vision for achieving improved outcomes for students and has contributed to this success. Our persistent efforts to ensure Catalyst initiatives are embedded is paying off!

Year 7 Results

Year 9 Results

Artificial Intelligence

Did you know Carroll College is at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to enhance student learning; a vision brought to life through the groundbreaking work led by our own staff in partnership with CEnet in developing innovative AI tools and classroom practices? 

At Carroll College, we continue to embrace the promise of innovation while remaining firmly grounded in our Catholic values, which guide all aspects of our teaching and learning. Our AI Advocate and Leader, Jason Szkwarek, previously shared our commitment to advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy in our college newsletter. I’m writing to provide an update on how our teachers are actively embedding AI into their practice, demonstrating ethical, responsible, and effective use of these tools to benefit our students.

Teachers at the Forefront of AI Integration

Just as AI is becoming an integral part of workplaces worldwide, our staff are thoughtfully embedding these tools into their own professional practices. Teachers at Carroll College use AI to enhance lesson planning, differentiate resources for diverse learners, and create opportunities for deeper student engagement. By doing so, they model responsible AI use for our students, demonstrating how such tools can support meaningful work without taking shortcuts or compromising integrity.

Being Mindful of Cognitive Offloading

One key lesson we emphasise with students is the importance of avoiding "cognitive offloading". Cognitive offloading occurs when we rely too heavily on technology, such as AI, to handle complex thinking, which can limit the development of our critical and creative skills. For example, while AI can draft an essay or suggest ideas for a project, it is our responsibility as learners to refine, personalise, and evaluate that work. This ensures the final product reflects our own understanding, creativity, and effort.

Students are encouraged to think critically about when and how to use AI tools. For instance:

• Example 1: Using AI to brainstorm ideas for a speech is helpful, but students should still write and refine the speech in their own voice.
• Example 2: Using AI to summarise notes can save time, but students are reminded that reading and summarising independently helps deepen their comprehension.

By explicitly discussing these examples in class, our staff are helping students strike the right balance between leveraging technology and cultivating their own abilities.

Building Skills for the Future

This approach reflects our commitment to future readiness. In workplaces across industries, professionals are harnessing AI to enhance productivity without compromising ethical standards or the quality of their contributions. At Carroll College, we are preparing students to do the same, ensuring they have the digital literacy, moral discernment, and critical thinking skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.

A Partnership with Families

We invite you to continue these conversations at home. As parents and caregivers, you play a vital role in helping your children reflect on their use of technology. Discussing when and how they use AI for schoolwork, and encouraging them to take ownership of their learning, can strengthen the values we promote at Carroll College.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership as we navigate these exciting developments in education together. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact the College or email AI Lead, Mr Jason Szkwarek at E: Jason.szkwarek@cg.catholic.edu.au

With respect and encouragement to you.

Mrs Jacqueline Heffernan
Principal

“The Holy Spirit reminds us first and foremost that we are children loved by God –
                                        everyone equal in God’s love, and everyone different.”     (Pope Francis)